Staff and Tutors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

URVASHI CHAND
NOEL CLARKE
DAVID GAME
JAKE TAYLOR

JAKE TAYLOR - Principal
Founder of the London School of Dramatic Art, Jake originally trained as an actor and dancer. His acting training began at the Court Theatre Training Company and culminated in a degree at the Drama Centre, London. Since graduating he has performed in numerous theatre productions in London and across the UK. He left the profession temporarily in 2000 to work as a Training Consultant for fundraising companies in the UK before relocating to Vancouver, Canada to set up and run a fundraising company. As Principal Jake takes a hands-on approach to ensure all students have a positive learning experience during their time at LSDA.
Jake is also a keen photographer and enjoys graphic design.

URVASHI CHAND - Director
Urvashi has cast a wide range of features. Her most recent is UK Casting for Mister Pip based on the Man Booker nominated book by Lloyd Jones for the creator and director of Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia, Andrew Adamson. Urvashi recently worked with Kidulthood director Menhaj Huda on his newest film Everywhere and Nowhere and cast 4321 for Universal Pictures directed by BAFTA winner Noel Clarke. Other credits include How To Be (2008), Age of Heroes (2011) and Mercenaries (2011). Urvashi Chand read Philosophy at London University and then studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She went on to direct fringe theatre in London before working with Danielle Roffe in casting on a number of films including Steven Herek’s Rockstar (1999), Mike and Jack Binder’s The Search for John Gissing (2000), Goodbye Charlie Bright (1999) and Lagaan (2001), the first Indian film to be nominated for an Oscar. She has also cast for The Bill. Her episodes, in 2008 were nominated for a BAFTA and won a Royal Television Society award, and in 2009 have been nominated for a Rose D’or in Switzerland.

Urvashi has a number of features in development including Richard Stanley’s Vacation, BAFTA nominee Richard Hawkins’s Most Dangerous Girl, The Postman with Ridley Scott Associates and two films with Alexandra Stone (Franklyn/Fast Food Nation/Young Adam) at CMP.

DAVID GAME - Director
David Game is chairman of the David Game College Group, one of the largest groups of colleges in the UK and worldwide, providing a wide variety of courses ranging from business to the arts. Since 1974, when he founded David Game Tutorial College, David Game's aim has been to establish the most diverse range of colleges and courses, providing each with the highest quality of leadership and teaching. He is an avid art collector - David Game College doubles up as a gallery exhibiting his varied collection of contemporary paintings.

NOEL CLARKE - Director
Born in West London, actor, writer and director Noel Clarke was first recognized for his work in Richard Wilson's Royal Court Theatre production of Where Do We Live, when he won Most Promising Performer at the 2003 Olivier Awards. Noel went on to take roles in a raft of top TV dramas including Metrosexuality, Waking the Dead, A Touch of Frost, Jane Halls, Superhero, and three series of Auf Weidersehen Pet. He also wrote and starred in Menhaj Huda's W10 LDN for Kudos Productions. The BBC's hugely popular Dr Who franchise brought Noel to the attention of British TV audiences, when he took on the role of Mickey Smith.

In 2005 Noel took the lead role of Sam Peel in Kidulthood, a film produced from his own original screenplay, which Menhaj Huda directed. Clarke won Best Screenplay for Kidulthood at the Dinard Film Festival. He went on to script and reprise his role as Sam in the UK smash hit sequel Adulthood, this time also taking on the role of director. Recent credits include: Vertigo Film's Doghouse, Huge with Thandie Newton, Eddie Izzard, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll with Andy Serkis, Ray Winstone, Heartless opposite Jim Sturgess and Neil Marshall's Centurion opposite Michael Fassbender.

ADMINISTRATION

LYDIA PALMESE - Arts Administrator
Originally from Oregon, Lydia began acting as a child and attended Christie-Eve Carothers Modelling School in the USA before moving to London to further her professional training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Professional experience included acting for TV commercials and theatre, as well as technical and stage management duties, before leaving the industry. In 2008 she graduated with a 1st Class degree in Film Theory from London Metropolitan University where she honed her interests in cultural history, psychology and philosophy. Lydia possesses a robust knowledge of film, theatre and costume history developed through years of academic study and practical experience. As the LSDA's administrator, Lydia helps bring stability and structure to the students' busy days.